Sunday obligation & extended travel

[DADTO8SOFAR]

Can a Catholic travel extensively knowing that Sunday mass would sometimes be missed? An example: My son would like to hike the Continental Divide Trail, which is over 3000 miles and would take about 5 months. It would be nearly impossible to make it to mass every Sunday. Does the church permit this?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Dad__,

The Church does not ask us to build our lives around going to mass. It asks us to live our lives and do our best to fulfil our Sunday obligation.

I’ll be going on a cruise this winter. There may or may not be a priest on the ship. I may or may not be able to attend mass on shore. But I’ll be aware and questioning.

And if one wants to have a completely clear conscience, he can always ask his pastor for a dispensation:

Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan Bishops as in Can. 87, a parish priest, in individual cases, for a just reason and in accordance with the prescriptions of the diocesan Bishop, can give a dispensation from the obligation of observing a holyday or day of penance, or commute the obligation into some other pious works.

 

[stbruno]

From my personal experience, any cruise director, travel agent or hotel where you are staying has a list of places available for Sunday worship. That is part of the adventure of traveling. As far as hiking the Continental divide, I would inquire in the town wherever you are planning of passing thru where services are available. Most truck stops know that answer to that one too. Make every effort to make mass. It is not an option but an obligation to make the effort. It makes the trip worthwhile from my family’s whole experience.

 

[csbyrnes84]

I’m sure he should be able to find a place where he would be able to go to mass. I was traveling all over Communist China for 6 weeks and had no problem going not only to Sunday mass, but also daily mass.

However if he does miss mass, he just needs to go to confession and discuss the circumstance with the priest, and his problem will be solved.

stbruno:

From my personal experience, any cruise director, travel agent or hotel where you are staying has a list of places available for Sunday worship. That is part of the adventure of traveling. As far as hiking the Continental divide, I would inquire in the town wherever you are planning of passing thru where services are available. Most truck stops know that answer to that one too. Make every effort to make mass. It is not an option but an obligation to make the effort. It makes the trip worthwhile from my family’s whole experience.